Ruimsig kickboxing club reflects on Covid-19 anniversary

It’s been one year since the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the Covid-19 outbreak a pandemic, resulting in governments all over the world implementing drastic interventions. On 16 March 2020, the first case of coronavirus infection on the West Rand was confirmed.

The virus necessitated alternative plans for world sport, as virtual classes and mental-health options were turbo-charged by the pandemic.

After a year in which people spent months cooped up at home and getting very little exercise, the Northsider paid a visit to Triple Threat Dojo gym owner, Wade Rendall to reflect on the difficult year of Covid-19.

Wade admitted that the pandemic took everybody by surprise, especially gym owners as they had no time to plan and adjust their businesses to survive an unknown virus.

“Firstly we had to limit our classes according to the size of the gym, we had to make sanitizers readily available throughout the gym, and clients had to wipe down all equipment and kickboxing gear after use.

“Currently we are unable to increase our fighters or enter any fights or kickboxing training camps,” said Wade.

When asked to reflect on how things are at the club now, and what is done differently, he revealed that things have improved from Level 3 to Level 1. Clients used to be apprehensive to train in small groups, but they are feeling a bit more at ease now.

“We as trainers have also had the opportunity to bond more with clients; especially those that stuck with us through the lockdown.

“We have our online protocol ready to train people should it become necessary, but as long as we don’t get to Level 5 again we will be able to train clients on site because we have a clearance certificate for Level 3,” explained Wade.

Triple Threat Dojo will be hosting a charity event in April and all the details will be published by the Northsider as soon as the event is finalised.